New W/fibromyalgia, Wheat, Dairy And Of Course Celiac

[Noche22]

Hello,

I am new to this to this forum. Only 5 days ago I found out I have celiac. Was told to Immediately stop wheat, gluten and dairy. My meeting with the doctor is on thud coming Wednesday, so I have been very anxious. I suffer from many things, one being fibromyalgia. Learning celiac has been confusing so far. Hard to know where to begin.

So far I have stopped eating gluten, wheat and dairy. I am suffering migraine for the 3rd day now. Is that normal? I was told I had severe gluten allergy, so not sure if my body is going through shock.

Can't wait to read through the forum.

Christa

[mushroom]

Hi Christa, and welcome to the board.

Yes, the diagnosis can be a bit of a shock at first, but when you realize it is a key to a whole new, healthier life, it begins to take perspective. Does it require work?? Yes it does, but it is probably the most rewarding work you will ever do in our life. It will change your life, for the better, and it is well worth the effort.

The migraines you are experiencing right now are probably due to gluten withdrawal. Gluten is like an opioid and takes a week or two to get out of your system. so do not be alarmed. Most people go through some kind of withdrawal from gluten.

Fibromyalgia-type symptoms are very common with celiac and will usually resolve with a gluten free diet, so be patient and they will probably go away.

I hope your appointment on Wednesday will clarify some things for you. Any questions you you have left feel free to bring to us. In the meantime, read as much as you can on this board - it is a mine of information on how to start the diet, degluten your kitchen, weed out all the hidden gluten in your life... you will find it invaluable. Read, read, read, and ask about anything that is not clear.

Welcome to a healthier way of living for you, and don't be a stranger. Let us know how you are doing and what problems you are having and I am sure someone here will be able to offer some helpful advice. It is really not as bad as it seems at first, and once you get your mind around it and find out how much better you can feel, it is a no-brainer.

[GFinDC]

It is good to start with a whole foods diet. Learning to cook is pretty important if you are going to be gluten-free. Making you own food will help you identify ingredients that cause problems too. Basically avoid anything in boxes for awhile, or pre-made meals. Once you have the hang of eating gluten-free and cooking your own food, you can experiment with trying processed foods (gluten-free). Some people have problems with dairy and soy so it might be good to do a trial elimination of them to see if you feel better. Eating simple whole foods at home is a good way to start.

[Noche22]

Haha, I see all my spelling errors, sorry. Typing on the iPad (auto spellcheck)

Thank you for your response. This site seems to be where I need to be. I am glad my migraines are a side effect of withdrawals. Today again, it is still here . Would it be wise to separate my foods from my children and husband? Also, should I get my children tested? They are 4, 5 and 13.

[mushroom]

Yes, and yes.

Cross-contamination is the major way we are glutened accidentally, whether at home or in a restaurant. You should have a separate (preferably top) shelf for your foods in the pantry and refrigerator, and you should have a dedicated counter space for food preparation that gluten does not touch. Your 4 and 5 year old are going to take a bit of training in how to keep mommy safe. You will need to have your own specically marked jars of peanut butter and spreads, anything that a knife can go into and drop crumbs in. You will need your own toaster as that is a major source of cross-contamination. You will need a separate skillet and colander for yourself, and if you use wood or plastic utensils you will not be able to share those either, all this because it is impossible to get the gluten out/off them. Everyone in the house, but especially you, will have to wash their hands a lot more frequently, to stop the spread of gluten on handles, doorknobs. It is often helpful to prepare your food on a paper towel on the counter to prevent contamination. You will have to insist your husband brush his teeth before kissing and beware of kissing gluteny baby cheeks too! It is a big adjustment to make.

Because celiac disease is genetically based, yes, your children should be tested for it, and even if negative now they should be retested periodically and watched for symptoms.

[Noche22]

Wow, I would not have thought of those things. Thank you! I am finding myself overwhelmed. Wednesday cannot come soon enough for me so I can talk to my doctor and find out exactly what is going on. There was a couple things that came up abnormal on my tests and we are going over a new diet and such. Also, how to deal with with the fibromyalgia(have had it since about 19 years old....34 now)

I can't thank you enough for giving me tips and helping me!